Yes, donations to Saint Vincent de Paul are generally deductible.
Cash, food, clothing, and other donations to qualifying non-profit organizations are generally tax deductible. Saint Vincent de Paul societies are usually their own separate 501(c)(3) organization or consider a part of the church they’re associated with.
In rare cases, a new or smaller Saint Vincent de Paul society may not be registered with the IRS as a non-profit organization, so it doesn’t hurt to double check.
You can generally deduct the value of what you donated. For new items, the deduction is usually equal to your purchase price. For used items, you may need to find an appropriate valuation guide (similar to the Kelley Blue Book for cars). Many larger Saint Vincent de Paul societies will have someone who can help you value your donation.
As a general rule, you should always get a receipt when you donate if you want to be able to claim a tax deduction. If you don’t get a receipt, your annual deduction may be limited to $250, and you still generally need to have some sort of written proof of your donation.
You’ll claim your donations as charitable contributions on your itemized deductions. If you use the standard deduction, the standard deduction covers your donations, and you won’t get extra for donating.
All donations are subject to the annual charitable contribution limits. Generally, you can deduct up to 50% of your Adjusted Gross Income in a given year. If you donate more than that, you may be able to deduct the additional amount in a future year.
Volunteers
If you volunteer at Saint Vincent de Paul, you can’t take a tax deduction for your time. Volunteer hours aren’t tax deductible.
If you drive your own car to pick up donations, make deliveries, or run other errands for the society, you may be able to deduct your mileage at the IRS volunteer rate of 14 cents per mile. You’ll need to keep a log of each trip showing when it was and what it was for.
If you make purchases for the society and don’t get reimbursed, those purchases are generally treated similarly to if you donated cash and are normally deductible.
Like with other donations, save all of your receipts and records to help you complete your tax return. Don’t forget to save everything for at least six years in case of an audit.
